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Friday, March 19, 2004

TEXAS POLICE PEPPER SPRAY AUDIENCE: The suitability of Austin as a venue for a major music event like SXSW has been called into question following the police's heavy handed handling of a gig that spilled onto the street. Grammy winning band Ozomatli took their SXSW show outdoors - as is their way - and wound up being arrested. Police intervened after the band lead members of the audience onto the street with drums and horns, telling everyone to go back inside. A scuffle ensued and two members of the band and their manager were arrested, before police used riot squad tactics to disperse the remaining crowd. It's probably lucky they didn't have a water cannon.